Workpiece positioning device

ABSTRACT

Discloses a workpiece positioning device for pushing raw materials, such as a strip stock, into contact with a fixed stop or guide rail while the stock is advancing through a die. Another use of this unit is to push a workpiece into position against a fixed stop or rail so that the part is accurately located for secondary operations. The unit comprises a housing containing a power storage member either in the form of a rotatably mounted plate or power stem tensioned against a torque producing member such as a spring and a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance which is movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so as to transmit torque from said power storage member to said workpiece.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jerold W. Arnold PrimaryExaminer-Andrew R. Juhasz 9709 Lyric Lane, Jeffersontown, Ky. AssistantExaminer-Donald D. Evenson 40299 Attorney-William R. Price [2!] Appl.No. 760,801 [22] Filed Sept. 19, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [54]WORKHECE POSITIONING DEVICE ABSTRACT: Discloses a workpiece positioningdevice for pushing raw materials, such as a strip stock, into contactwith 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

a fixed stop or guide rail while the stock is advancing through [52] US.Cl. 269/317, 3 di A other e of this unit is to push a workpiece intoposi- 269/254 tion against a fixed stop or rail so that the part isaccurately [51] Int. Cl r. B231] 3/18 located for secondary operations.The unit comprises a hous- [50] Field of Search 269/10, 54, ingontaining a power storage member either in the form of a 154, 321rotatably mounted plate or power stem tensioned against a torqueproducing member such as a spring and a torque trans- [561 Referencescued mitting and work engaging protuberance which is movable N TED T TEP TE T into abutting relation to a workpiece so as to transmit torque969,546 9/1910 Lewis et a1 269/254X fr m s i po er st rage mem er to aidworkpiece.

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INVENTOR. JE. Row W. ARNg BY 2 roR/VEV WORKPIECE POSITIONING DEVICEFIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a workpiece positioningdevice and more specifically to a device for positioning a workpieceagainst a vguide rail or fixed stop for purposes of accuratelylocatingsaid workpiece forsecondary operations. In one embodiment, thisinvention relates to a workpositioning device adapted to push rawmaterials such as a strip metal stock into contact with a guide railwhile the strip stock is advancing through a die.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In milling, gauge tooling and jigoperations in which the workpiece operated upon is supported or carried"by a bed or die, it is essential to accurate working that the work beheld firmly and rigidly in position'during the operationthereon.

Accordingly, as .is shown in .FIG. 1 of the drawings, it has been thepractice, for example, -with; progressive .dies to :provide a front andrear stock guide rail through which the sheet .metal stock advances withminimum clearance. In such operations, it is necessary to dowel locateeach rail .to the die sections with extreme accuracy, usually plus orminus .OOI inch fromthe maximum width of the raw material.

To this end, there has been designed a stock pusher assembly or locatorutilized with the front guide rail to push the sheet stock against therear stock guide .rail. This assembly is installed into a groove in thefront guide rail which is closely machined for a free slide fit with thepusher. A spring, mounted on the rod as shown, forces the rawmaterial toride against the rear stock guide rail. FIG. 2 illustrates still anothertype of standard stock pusher which u'tilizestwo spring-loaded arms toapply force to the advancing strip stock against the rear stock rail.Unfortunately, this latter pusher cannot be tion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there is provideda torque transmitting protuberance powered by and attached to a powertransmitting member rotatably mounted inside a housing and connected toa torque producing means, such as a spring.

The torque producing means in one embodiment, is a tensioned spring,which applies torqueto a 'rotatably mounted power storage member, eitherin the form of axpower stem or a power plate. To the power plate isattached, at a point spaced from the center of its axis of rotation, atorque transmitting and work engaging protuberance. This protuberance ismovable in an arc, defined by aslot in the top of a housing, intoresilient and abutting relation with a workpiece so as to transmittorque from said power storage member to said workpiece and push saidworkpiece into engagement with a fixed stop or guide rail. The design ofthe work positioning device is unique in that costly jig boringfor fixedlocator pins is eliminated since it only necessary to drill a hole andplace the housing of the device in said hole and anchor same with ascrew. The torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance which,preferably, is in the form of a pin, is allowed to travel through an arcdefined by the slot in the top of the housing. Therefore the pin is inabutting contact with the stock to push the stock into rubbingengagement with the fixed guide rail. By utilization of a cap plate onthe top of the torque transmittingpin, the front guide rail can beeliminated since the cap plate prevents the strip stock from jumping outof the track. Through the use of the resiliently mounted torquetransmitting member in the slot in the top of the housing, it isunnecessary to require extreme accuracy in locating the stock guide railrelative to width and camber tolerances of steel strip stockmanufacturers. Further, the design is unique inasmuch as raw material isforced to an XX-axis and improves die operation by not permitting theraw material to float between two fixed guide rails. Further, the designis unique as all variations BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referringnow to the drawings: FIG. 1 is a view in perspectiveof a progressive dieusing front and rear stock guide rails and a standard pusher orpositioning device.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of aprogressive die'using a standardpositioning device outside of the die area and the device of thisinvention in the die area. 1

FIG. 3 is a viewin-perspective of a drill jig, utilizing theunit of-thisinvention to push theworkpiece into contact with fixed locatorpins.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, of the device ofthis invention.

FIG. 5 isa plan view of the power storage'member of this invention inthe form of a power stern.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the power stem illustrated in FIG. 5. g

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, with parts in elevation, of a modificationof the unit with a prestresse'd spring forming the DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring nowto the drawings in detail, the worksupport table I contains a lower die section 2 to which is mounted frontand rear stockguide rails 3 and 4 respectively. The stock 5, in theform'of sheet metal .is advancing in the direction of the arrow betweenthe front stock guide rail 3 and the rear stock guide rail 4. Thevguideposts 6 at the rear of the work support table '1 act as guides forthe upper punch section, (not shown). Mounted into the front stock guiderail 3 is a standard stock guide positioner or pusher fitted into agroove in 'the front guide rail 3 which has been closely machined for afree slide .fit. As is shown, the plunger 8, slides through the groovein the guide rail 3against the tension of spring 10 on the guide rod 9.

The difficulty with they standard arrangement, as exemplified in theprior art, is that each stock guide rail 3 and 4 must be :dowel locatedto the die sectionswith extreme accuracy usually plus or minus .001 ofan inch. The stock pusher assembly? pushes the stock 5 against the rearstock guide rail 4 to prevent the stock from floating" between the twostock rails. Nevertheless, it is necessary to maintain the front stockguide rail 3 even though the standard stock pusher 7 is utilrail has notbeen utilized. The work positioning device 20 of this inventionconsisting of housing 21 and the work engaging protuberance 30, ridingin arcuate slot 22 in engagement with the stock 5 has been substitutedfor the from stock guide rail position by engagement of the head 41 ofscrew 40 with the detent portion 39 at the top of the housing 21. Sincethe work engaging protuberance is resiliently mounted in abuttingrelationship with the stock 5, and the work engaging protuberance 30 mayride through the arcuate path defined by slot 22, it is not necessary toutilize extreme precision in positioning of the unit 20 relative to thestock.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a simple drill jig is illustrated in which theunit 20 through the torque transmitted by the work engaging protuberance30 push the workpiece 5 against fixed locator pins 12. 7

Referring now to FIG. 4, the work positioning device of this inventionconsists of a housing which in FIG. 4 consists of upper portion 21 andlower portion 211:. An arcuate slot 22, extends through the top of thehousing 21 and a center opening 23 is in communication with the top 'ofthe power storage member 24 which, in this embodiment, is in the form ofa power stem. The power stem hasa cap plate 25, containing a screwdriver blade receiving slot 27, in communication with the center opening23 of the top 21 of the housing. The shaft 28 of the power stem 24 isrotatably fitted into a hole 43 located in the bottom of the portion ofthe housing 21a. It will be noted that the cap plate 25 of power stem 24contains a tapped hole 26 in which the lower end of shaft 31 of the workengaging protuberance is fitted. The shaft, 31, projects through thearcuate slot 22 at the top of the housing 21 to terminate in cap plate32. In the embodiment shown, a hardened steel collar 33, beveled at thebottom at an angle of 45 is used to surround the shaft 31 of the workengaging protuberance 30 and thus engage the stock 5 or workpiece 5 inthe embodiment previously described.

Now, surrounding the shaft 28 of the power stem 24, is a spring 45,which is anchored at one end to the shaft 28 and at the other end tohole 44 in the floor of the bottom portion of the housing 21a. I

The top of the housing 21, contains a detent portion 39, for registrywith the head 41 of screw 40, imbedded in the die section 2.

In order to tension the spring, the shaft 31 of the work engagingprotuberance 30 is removed from tapped hole 26 in the cap plate 25 ofthe power stem 24. Thereafter, a screw driver blade is inserted in theslot 27 and the power stem is turned one or more revolutions to tensionthe spring 45 and to impart potential energy thereto. Thereafter, thetapped hole 26 is aligned with the arcuate slot 22 and the end of shaft31 is fitted through the arcuate slot 22 into the hole 26. Thus, the arcof travel of work engaging protuberance 30 is limited through an arcuatepath of about 30, thus limiting the rotation of the power stem 24 andthus stores potential energy and torque which may be released when thehardened collar 33 is in engagement with the stock or workpiece 5 aspreviously illustrated.

Referring now to the pretensioned spring embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the housing 21 consists of a cylindrical barrellike bodycontaining upper plate 50, lower plate 51 and intermediate plate in theform of powerstorage member 24.

In this instance, the shaft 31 of the work engaging protuberance 30 ispermanently attached through slot 22 of upper plate 50 to the powerstorage member 24.

Again, the spring 45 in anchored at one end to the power storage member24 and at the other end to base plate 51. In order to tension the spring45, the rotatably mounted base plate 51 is rotated one or morerevolutions by means of a spanner wrench until the proper tensionisplaced on spring 45. Thereafter, the base plate 51 is immovably fixedinto position by brazing or welding (as shown at 56) of the base plateto the sides of the barrellike casing 21 or by staking same throughmeans (not shown). In this manner, the spring 45 is pretensioned tocontain potential energy so as to exert torque on power storage member24 which, in turn is limited in revolution by the engagement of shaft 31on the work engaging protuberance 30 against the walls or slot 22.

Now referring to FIG. 8, the arcuate slot 22 forms an arc segment ofabout 30", thus limiting the path of travel of the work engagingprotuberance 30. It will be noted that the edge 57 of housing 21 istapered and contains serrations 58 around the upper edge of the wall.The lug 59, contains a tapered portion and serrated portion60 havingserrations that register with the serrations 58 in the top edge 57 ofthe housing 21 to hold the housing in position. The lug 59 is thusanchored to the die section 2 by means of screw-61. 1t will'beappreciated that merely by loosening screw 61, the housing 21 may berevolved so as to offer almost unlimited'adjustment.

Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art from thedetailed description hereinabove given, which description is meant to beexemplary in nature and nonlimiting except so as to be commensurate inscope with the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1

1. For use with a work support a workpiece positioning devicecomprising: l

A. a housing;

B. a torque producing and transmitting member comprising,

in combination:

l. a power storage member rotatively mounted in said housing, includinga power stem;

2. means for applying torque to member; in which a. said means forapplying torque to said rotatively mounted storage member comprises aspring mounted at one end to said housing and at the other end to saidpower storage member; and

b. means for turning said power storage member through one or morerevolutions and thus wind said spring and thereafter limit rotation ofsaid power storage member in order to store potential energy; and

c. means for turning said power stem including, in combination:

l. a screw driver blade receiving slot in the top of said power stem,and,

2. an opening in the top of said housing for provision of a screwdriver.

3. a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted inspaced relation from the axis of rotation of said power storage memberand in operative relation with said power storage member, saidprotuberance being movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so asto transmit torque from said power storage member in said workpiece;

4. means to limit the arc of travel of said protuberance and therotation of said power storage member; and

C. anchoring means for anchoring said housing to said work support inoperative relation to said workpiece.

2. For use with a work support a workpiece positioning devicecomprising:

A. a-housing, including a base plate;

B. a torque producing and transmitting member comprising,

in combination:

l. a power storage member rotatively mounted in said housing, includinga power plate;

2. means for applying torque to said power storage member; in which a.said means for applying torque to said rotatively mounted storage membercomprises a spring mounted at one end to said housing and at the otherend to said power storage member; and

b. means for winding said spring in order to store potential energy,

c. said means for winding said spring include a base plate which may beturned one or more revolutions to wind said spring and which isthereafter fixed in position;

3. a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted inspaced relation from the axis of rotation of said power storage saidpower storage member and inoperative relation with said power storagemember, said protuberance,

C. anchoring means for anchoring'said-housing to said work support inoperative relation to said workpiece.

3. For use with a work support a workpiece positioning. 7devicecomprising:

. A.ahousing: v

B. a torque producing and transmitting member comprising,

in combination:

l. a power storage member rotatively mounted in said 2. means forapplying torque; to, said power storage member; f

3. a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted inspaced relation from the axis of rotation of said power storagememberarid in operative relation with said power storage member, saidprotuberance being movable into abuttingrelation to a workpiece so as totransmit torque from said power storage member to said workpiece;

4. means to limit the arc of travel of said protuberance and therotation of said power storage member;

a. said means for limiting the arc of travel of said protu: berance is aslot in the top of said housing through which said protuberanceprojects; and

C. anchoring means for anchoring said'housing to said work support inoperative relation to said workpiece.

4. A working positioning device, defined in claim 3, in which said powerstorage member is a power stem.

5. A workpiece positioning device, as defined in claim 3, in which saidpower storage member is a power plate.

6. For use with a work support-a workpiece positioning devicecomprising: l

A. a housing;

B. a torque producing and transmitting member comprising,

in combination: I g

l.- a power storage member rotatively mounted in said housing;

2. means for applying torque-to, said power storage member;

3. a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted inspaced relation from the axis ofrotation of said power storage memberand in operative relation with said power storage member, saidprotuberance being movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so asto transmit torque from saidpower storage member to said workpiece; 5 4.means to limit the arc of travel of said protuberance and the rotationof said power storage member; C. anchoring means for anchoring saidhousing to said work support in operative relation to saidworkpiece, inwhich said anchoring means comprising;

1. a serrated portion around the wall of said housing; 1. a detentportion at the top of said housing; and, I 2. a screw, mounted in saidwork support, with a portion of its head in engagement with said detentportion. 7. For use with a work support a workpiece positioning devicecomprising:

' A. a housing;

B. a torque producing and transmitting member comprising,

in combination: r l. a power storage member rotatively mounted in saidhousing; 2. means for applying torque to 'said power storage member; 3.a torquev transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted in spacedrelation from the axis of rotation of said povver storage member'and inoperative relation with said power storage member, said protuberancebeing movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so as to transmittorque from said-power storage member to said workpiece;

4. means to limit the arc of travel of said protuberance and therotation of said power storage member;

C. anchoring means for anchoring said housing to said work support inoperative relation to said workpiece, said anchoring means comprising:

1. a serrated portion around the wall of said housing;

2. the combination therewith of :a holddown lug having a serratedportion engageable' with the serrated portion of said housing; and

.3. a screw for anchoring said'holddown lug to said work support. i

1. For use with a work support a workpiece positioning devicecomprising: A. a housing; B. a torque producing and transmitting membercomprising, in combination:
 1. a power storage member rotatively mountedin said housing, including a power stem;
 2. means for applying torque tosaid power storage member; in which a. said means for applying torque tosaid rotatively mounted storage member comprises a spring mounted at oneend to said housing and at the other end to said power storage member;and b. means for turning said power storage member through one or morerevolutions and thus wind said spring and thereafter limit rotation ofsaid power storage member in order to store potential energy; and c.means for turning said power stem including, in combination:
 1. a screwdriver blade receiving slot in the top of said power stem, and,
 2. anopening in the top of said housing for provision of a screw driver.
 3. atorque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted in spacedrelation from the axis of rotation of said power storage member and inoperative relation with said power storage member, said protuberancebeing movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so as to transmittorque from said power storage member in said workpiece;
 4. means tolimit the arc of travel of said protuberance and the rotation of saidpower storage member; and C. anchoring means for anchoring said housingto said work support in operative relation to said workpiece.
 2. anopening in the top of said housing for provision of a screw driver. 2.means for applying torque to said power storage member; in which a. saidmeans for applying torque to said rotatively mounted storage membercomprises a spring mounted at one end to said housing and at the otherend to said power storage member; and b. means for turning said powerstorage member through one or more revolutions and thus wind said springand thereafter limit rotation of said power storage member in order tostore potential energy; and c. means for turning said power stemincluding, in combination:
 2. means for applying torque to said powerstorage member; in which a. said means for applying torque to saidrotatively mounted stoRage member comprises a spring mounted at one endto said housing and at the other end to said power storage member; andb. means for winding said spring in order to store potential energy, c.said means for winding said spring include a base plate which may beturned one or more revolutions to wind said spring and which isthereafter fixed in position;
 2. For use with a work support a workpiecepositioning device comprising: A. a housing, including a base plate; B.a torque producing and transmitting member comprising, in combination:2. the combination therewith of a holddown lug having a serrated portionengageable with the serrated portion of said housing; and
 2. means forapplying torque to said power storage member;
 2. a screw, mounted insaid work support, with a portion of its head in engagement with saiddetent portion.
 2. means for applying torque to said power storagemember;
 2. means for applying torque to said power storage member; 3.For use with a work support a workpiece positioning device comprising:A. a housing: B. a torque producing and transmitting member comprising,in combination:
 3. a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberancemounted in spaced relation from the axis of rotation of said powerstorage member and in operative relation with said power storage member,said protuberance being movable into abutting relation to a workpiece soas to transmit torque from said power storage member to said workpiece;3. a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted inspaced relation from the axis of rotation of said power storage memberand in operative relation with said power storage member, saidprotuberance being movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so asto Transmit torque from said power storage member to said workpiece; 3.a torque transmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted in spacedrelation from the axis of rotation of said power storage member and inoperative relation with said power storage member, said protuberancebeing movable into abutting relation to a workpiece so as to transmittorque from said power storage member to said workpiece;
 3. a screw foranchoring said holddown lug to said work support.
 3. a torquetransmitting and work engaging protuberance mounted in spaced relationfrom the axis of rotation of said power storage member and in operativerelation with said power storage member, said protuberance being movableinto abutting relation to a workpiece so as to transmit torque from saidpower storage member to said workpiece;
 3. a torque transmitting andwork engaging protuberance mounted in spaced relation from the axis ofrotation of said power storage member and in operative relation withsaid power storage member, said protuberance being movable into abuttingrelation to a workpiece so as to transmit torque from said power storagemember in said workpiece;
 4. means to limit the arc of travel of saidprotuberance and the rotation of said power storage member; and C.anchoring means for anchoring said housing to said work support inoperative relation to said workpiece.
 4. means to limit the arc oftravel of said protuberance and the rotation of said power storagemember; C. anchoring means for anchoring said housing to said worksupport in operative relation to said workpiece, said anchoring meanscomprising:
 4. means to limit the arc of travel of said protuberance andthe rotation of said power storage member; C. anchoring means foranchoring said housing to said work support in operative relation tosaid workpiece, in which said anchoring means comprising:
 4. means tolimit the arc of travel of said protuberance and the rotation of saidpower storage member; and C. anchoring means for anchoring said housingto said work support in operative relation to said workpiece.
 4. Aworking positioning device, as defined in claim 3, in which said powerstorage member is a power stem.
 4. means to limit the arc of travel ofsaid protuberance and the rotation of said power storage member; a. saidmeans for limiting the arc of travel of said protuberance is a slot inthe top of said housing through which said protuberance projects; and C.anchoring means for anchoring said housing to said work support inoperative relation to said workpiece.
 5. A workpiece positioning device,as defined in claim 3, in which said power storage member is a powerplate.
 6. For use with a work support a workpiece positioning devicecomprising: A. a housing; B. a torque producing and transmitting membercomprising, in combination:
 7. For use with a work support a workpiecepositioning device comprising: A. a housing; B. a torque producing andtransmitting member comprising, in combination: